TL;DR: If you're a guy who struggles to find a good (or any) selection of clothes because you're taller or bigger than what most stores carry, this store is 100% for you. Mind-blowing selection and helpful, friendly staff.
Longer version, especially for anyone who didn't realize...
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TL;DR: If you're a guy who struggles to find a good (or any) selection of clothes because you're taller or bigger than what most stores carry, this store is 100% for you. Mind-blowing selection and helpful, friendly staff.
Longer version, especially for anyone who didn't realize stores like this exist: This was my first time here - I hadn't even heard of DXL until this morning. I'm 6'3" and about 290. I used to wear 42 or 44 waist jeans, which tends to be the max most department and clothing stores carry but puffed up a bit to 46 now. I also wear XXL t-shirts, which sometimes hang below my waistline, but sometimes barely reach it. My whole life, even in my lean days, I'd battled trying to keep the sides of my button-down shirts tucked into my pants, or the front flaps of dress shirt separating because the bottom button was still above my belt line. A few times I've owned XLT or 2XLT shirts and could see the difference, but the options in those sizes were few and far between. So I eventually stopped seeking out that elusive "T" and just made due with "good enough" shirts that struggled to stay in place.
When I gained another couple inches around my waist and my size 44s began straining, the writing was on the wall. I had to seek out Big & Tall. I went on Amazon and found a few pairs of pants, but trying to figure out the look and fit from a few pictures was hit-and-miss and a hassle. I ended up having to return half of them. Someone recommended Men's Wearhouse, which had a few more ready-to-wear B&T items than the department stores, but nothing in casual wear.
I googled "Big and Tall stores" early this morning and found DXL. When I entered the store and saw the number of items, I could not believe everything was B&T. I truly had never seen anything like it and didn't realize such a place existed. Activewear (athletic apparel, sweatpants, etc.), casual wear (jeans, cargo pants, t-shirts, polos), formal attire (dress shirts and slacks), and more. The brands included Levi's, Reebok, Columbia, Polo Ralph Lauren, and Tommy Bahama. I don't have Polo and Tommy Bahama money, so fortunately there were a wide selection of store brands, too. Those went by names like Oak Hill, Synrgy, and True Nation, and seemed to be good quality. But it was nice to know that if I ever have Tommy Bahama money, the option is there.
I didn't find my size in everything I looked at, but I found it enough that I had way more than enough choices of clothes that really appealed to me. I learned the 2XLT shirts tended to fit me best. That brings up something that is so easy to overlook but can absolutely be a huge headache for anyone who has tried finding their size on hanging clothes (so excuse the all caps for emphasis): EVERY HANGER WAS CLEARLY MARKED WITH THE SIZE OF THE SHIRT, AND EVERY SHIRT I LOOKED AT MATCHED THE SIZE INDICATED ON THE HANGER.
On the same page of the shirts being on the correct hangers, the entire store seemed very clean and well-organized. This appeared to be a reflection of the staff. There appeared to be three people working while I was there: a young man named Robert and two ladies, whose names I did not get. I was in the store for about two hours and conversed with all of them. All three were friendly, helpful, and had upbeat attitudes. They were not pushy at all (though I suspect they might get sales commissions). At the same time they were responsive and ready to assist when needed.
I went into the store to definitely buy some jeans and consider other items. I ended up buying two pairs of jeans, three button-down shirts, a sweatsuit, two t-shirts, and a belt. It was about $600 out the door . Not Walmart rollback prices, but honestly decent prices for clothes that are going to look nice and fit me well.
Even after I drop a few pounds (like we all promise to do), this will likely remain my go-to store for the best-fitting, great-looking clothes. Obviously, I recommend it to anyone who might qualify as a customer.